Discussionispresentedontheuseofthephotoisomerizationofazobenzenechromophoreinthedesignandpreparationofnovelfunctionalmaterials.Thetwosystemsreviewedareazobenzenepolymer-stabilizedliquidcrystalsandazobenzeneelastomers.Inthefirstcase,apolymernetworkcontainingazobenzenemoietiesisusedtoopticallyinduceandstabilizealong-rangeliquidcrystalorientationwithouttheneedoftreatingthesurfacesofthesubstrates.Thisopticalandrubbing-freeapproachwasappliedtonematicandferroelectricliquidcrystals.Inthesecondcase,anazobenzeneside-chainliquidcrystallinepolymerisgraftedontoastyrene-butadiene-styrenetriblockcopolymertoyieldaphotoactivethermoplasticelastomer.Coupledmechanicalandopticaleffectsmakepossibletheformationofdiffractiongratingsthatmaybeusefulformechanicallytunableopticaldevices.
